The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-15

invectives on the heads of the Chris
tians, but his power could not reach the
subtle truth that God had planted in
the earth, that it might bear the fruit
of the kingdom. AS well might he
have presumed to destroy the sun by
swaying the glittering blade of his
sword through the golden beams that
orb continually sheds upon the earth.
Gods truth did not and does not change.
1t is always what it always was, but
the people grew toward perception of
it. Their minds were cleared to and
their souls warmed by an understand
ing of the Christian principles The
facts alone would not have produced an
advancement Of Gods word. Had they
| failed to confess the truths and to sac
! rifice for them, it never would have been
written that 1.-The word of the Lord grew
and multiplied" Though multitudes
have in these later years expanded in
tellectually to the recognition of the
great truths of Universalism, yet hav-
ing retained membership in orthodox
churches, or remained in the ranks of
the non-professing, neither laboring,
sacrificing nor speaking for the truth,
it has not been written of us as it ought
to have been, that the word of the Lord
grew and multiplied.
The history of Peter teaches that to
confess the truth is as important as to
practice it, How many who are only
intellectually Universalists are willing
to see it prosecuted and crucified, be-
cause they see social Ostracism and in
jury to business as the result of honest
confession of their convictions and SYM
pathies? There are others who are will.
ing to advocate the theory of universal
salvation according to the letter of the
old law, but are suspicious of every new
sound and fearful of every advanced
thought, as if the lines of growth had
been defined by our fathers, and to be-
hold great fields of truth lying unex-
plored beyond these lines were disloyal-
ty to the denomination. Jesus said,
" What tell you in the darkness, that
speak ye in the light, and what ye hear
in the ear, that preach ye upon the
housetops.' Is not the good spirit
speaking to-day to those enlightened
souls that are barred to the sunlight of
his TRUTH And may they not see be-
yond the present, beyond the limits Of
truth reached by our fathers? 1.-THE
old, old story" is indeed beautiful, but
may not the clear perception of lofty
souls of to-day add new tints of beauty
and CLEANS Of light? Solomon said
"Where there is no vision the people
perish" So truly, our church shall
perish if it realize no enhancing visions
along the lines of spiritual life. 1t must
enlarge and beautify and intensity the
faith of the past. 1t must Ego for
ward" not only in its philosophy and
science of God, but in its faith and
practice. 1t must be prophetic in its
teaching. Peter was chosen and or
dained by Jesus to bear his truth to
the world, yet Peter had not the album
dance of that truth in himself; but he
was so taught of Christ that he grew
daily toward better appreciation of it,
and was able to more fairly interpret it,
as his soul became more pure and his
mind free from Judaism. The truth
was to grow in him, and then to shine
through him, but he had to give up
many of his old ideas before he could
fully comprehend the new. This is per-
haps the strongest claim now pressing
upon the religious world. Truth asks
to be recognized even at the expense of
sacrificing long, cherished ideas.
AS Universalsts we ought to be will
ing to receive every new word of God,
sacrificing any and all preconceived
opinions that may hinder; yea, though
it break our hearts as we'll as our idols.
This we must know that God is greater
than our best conception of him, and
though we think we worship the divin-
est ideal, he may yet reveal a better
one. But so long as we are true to our
selves he will never take his spirit from
us. He who holds truth in his heart
independent of creed, and for its own
sake, will be able to stand upon the
mountain top, firmly fixed in sunshine
and storm, the love of truth thrilling
every fiber of his being. The world
needs to be more fully converted to the
one thought of Paul, who said to the
Corinthians, We can do nothing
against the truth, y and to recognition
of Peters high mindedness, when he
said to those of like precious faith,
1--WE must be established in the present
truth" 1t is folly for any representa-
tive of Christianity to wage war against
the rapidly advancing truths of the
times. Better to join the march and
show how admirably Christianity can
adjust itself to all true progress; how
it sanctifes and Eliminates all phases
of life, and is able to establish itself in
all present truth.
When Peter ceased to dictate to the